Earnings per share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Earnings per share [Abstract]
Profit/(loss) from continuing operations attributable to Atlantica Yield Plc.	$ (111,804)	$ (4,855)	$ (209,005)
Profit/(loss) from discontinuing operations attributable to Atlantica Yield Plc.	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Average number of ordinary shares outstanding (thousands) - basic and diluted (in shares)	100,217	100,217	92,795
Earnings per share from continuing operations (US dollar per share) - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.12)	$ (0.05)	$ (2.25)
Earnings per share from discontinuing operations (US dollar per share) - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	0	0	0
Earnings per share from profit/ (loss) for the period (US dollar per share) - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.12)	$ (0.05)	$ (2.25)

The amount of earnings per share when the basic and diluted measurements are equal. [Refer: Basic earnings (loss) per share; Diluted earnings (loss) per share]

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Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations. [Refer: Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share]

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- Definition

Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations. [Refer: Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share]

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No definition available.

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The profit (loss) from continuing operations attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent equity. [Refer: Continuing operations [member]; Profit (loss) from continuing operations]

+ References

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The profit (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent equity. [Refer: Profit (loss) from discontinued operations]

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- Definition

The number of ordinary shares outstanding at the beginning of the period, adjusted by the number of ordinary shares bought back or issued during the period multiplied by a time-weighting factor.

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